11 tips to keep your hands soft and supple this pandemic

For the past three months, we have been washing our hands frequently, to the point of diligently singing Happy Birthday twice, to get the required 20 seconds in. We have also been washing more dishes and clothes and cleaning up a lot more. But imagine what all this hand washing and exposure to harsh chemicals are doing to our delicate hands?

Our hands are often the most over-worked, and, neglected parts of our body. And because we do not care for them the way we should, we often end up with painful skin conditions.

A study conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the American Academy of Dermatology, has linked excessive hand washing to dermatitis. The study found that 63 per cent of the participants, who washed their hands repeatedly, suffered from the skin condition.

However, by following proper handcare processes, this can be contained to a large extent.

Here are some tips that you can follow to avoid skin problems such as dryness, redness, flaking and dermatitis.